Soda Crate Moral Dilemma (& Informal Survey)
I have a moral dilemma and will go along with whatever the majority reply. Last week went to the Big City (2 hour drive). Heading back home got a flat on the interstate. While putting on the spare ...
Forum Discussion
It depends on the law in your area. In Pennsylvania it's Theft.
§ 3924. Theft of property lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake.
A person who comes into control of property of another that he knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to the nature or amount of the property or the identity of the recipient is guilty of theft if, with intent to deprive the owner thereof, he fails to take reasonable measures to restore the property to a person entitled to have it.
§ 3925. Receiving stolen property.
(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of theft if he
intentionally receives, retains, or disposes of movable property
of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it
has probably been stolen, unless the property is received,
retained, or disposed with intent to restore it to the owner.
§ 6712. Use of carts, cases, trays, baskets, boxes and other containers.
(a) General rule.--A person owning shopping carts, laundry carts or containers may adopt and use a name or mark on the carts or containers and may register the same pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S. Ch. 15 (relating to reusable marked articles and receptacles).
(b) Prohibited uses of containers.--A person may not do any of the following:
(1) Use for any purpose, when not on the premises of the owner or an adjacent parking area, a container of another which is identified with or by any name or mark unless the use is authorized by the owner.
(2) Sell, or offer for sale, a container of another which is identified with or by a name or mark unless the sale is authorized by the owner.
(3) Deface, obliterate, destroy, cover up or otherwise remove or conceal a name or mark on a container of another without the written consent of the owner.
(c) Presumption of possession.--Any person who is in possession of any shopping cart, laundry cart or container which has a name or mark and is not on the premises of the owner or an adjacent parking area shall be presumed to be in possession of stolen property.
The Finders-Keepers defense probably won't hold up in court. There a lot of people sitting in jail because they 'Found' something.
That said, your chances of legal problems because of an old soda case are probably slim to none.
So, it's not only a Moral Dilemma, it's also a Legal Dilemma. ;)
§ 3924. Theft of property lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake.
A person who comes into control of property of another that he knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to the nature or amount of the property or the identity of the recipient is guilty of theft if, with intent to deprive the owner thereof, he fails to take reasonable measures to restore the property to a person entitled to have it.
§ 3925. Receiving stolen property.
(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of theft if he
intentionally receives, retains, or disposes of movable property
of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it
has probably been stolen, unless the property is received,
retained, or disposed with intent to restore it to the owner.
§ 6712. Use of carts, cases, trays, baskets, boxes and other containers.
(a) General rule.--A person owning shopping carts, laundry carts or containers may adopt and use a name or mark on the carts or containers and may register the same pursuant to 54 Pa.C.S. Ch. 15 (relating to reusable marked articles and receptacles).
(b) Prohibited uses of containers.--A person may not do any of the following:
(1) Use for any purpose, when not on the premises of the owner or an adjacent parking area, a container of another which is identified with or by any name or mark unless the use is authorized by the owner.
(2) Sell, or offer for sale, a container of another which is identified with or by a name or mark unless the sale is authorized by the owner.
(3) Deface, obliterate, destroy, cover up or otherwise remove or conceal a name or mark on a container of another without the written consent of the owner.
(c) Presumption of possession.--Any person who is in possession of any shopping cart, laundry cart or container which has a name or mark and is not on the premises of the owner or an adjacent parking area shall be presumed to be in possession of stolen property.
The Finders-Keepers defense probably won't hold up in court. There a lot of people sitting in jail because they 'Found' something.
That said, your chances of legal problems because of an old soda case are probably slim to none.
So, it's not only a Moral Dilemma, it's also a Legal Dilemma. ;)
